DSE Workstation Self-Assessment
A scored workstation self-assessment under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 that teaches correct setup, then has each worker rate their own desk and flags issues to escalate.
Who this is for
Office-based, hybrid and home workers who use screens for an hour or more at a time, and the managers recording their assessments
Learners will be able to
- Determine whether they meet the definition of a DSE user under the 1992 Regulations
- Set screen height, viewing distance, keyboard position and chair adjustment in line with HSE guidance
- Apply the break-or-change-of-activity principle rather than working through long uninterrupted screen sessions
- State their entitlement to an employer-funded eye test and, where needed, glasses specifically for screen work
- Complete a scored self-assessment of their own workstation and escalate flagged issues to their manager
Template prompt
“Create a display screen equipment self-assessment for office and hybrid workers covering who counts as a DSE user, correct screen, keyboard, mouse and chair setup, posture and break habits, eye test entitlements, and home working arrangements. Reference the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. Include a labelled workstation setup diagram and a scored self-assessment that flags issues the learner should raise with their manager.”
This prompt is fully editable. Customise it to match your audience, regulations, and learning objectives before generating.
What the 6 sections cover
- 1
Are You a DSE User?
Context on the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 and the HSE definition of a user — daily screen work in continuous spells of an hour or more — with a quick baseline check.
- 2
Screen, Keyboard and Mouse Setup
A labelled workstation diagram showing screen top at or just below eye level, roughly arm's-length viewing distance, and keyboard and mouse positioning, followed by spot-the-problem questions.
- 3
Chair, Posture and Desk Ergonomics
Flashcards on chair height, lumbar support, feet flat or on a footrest, and avoiding prolonged static postures, with common discomfort signals to watch for.
- 4
Breaks, Eye Tests and Your Entitlements
What the Regulations entitle users to — regular breaks or changes of activity, an employer-funded eye test on request, and glasses paid for where needed specifically for DSE work — with a scored check.
- 5
Home and Hybrid Working Setups
A scenario assessing a realistic kitchen-table laptop setup: the learner identifies risks and picks low-cost fixes (laptop stand, separate keyboard, chair adjustments), since the Regulations apply to home working too.
- 6
Scored Self-Assessment: Rate Your Own Workstation
The final scored assessment walks the learner through each element of their actual workstation, produces a completion score, and lists any flagged issues to raise with their manager for follow-up.
Structure is representative — the generator adapts sections to your edited prompt and passes every package through interactivity and visual-density quality gates.
Topics covered
Make it yours
- Add the equipment you actually provide (chair models, laptop stands, second monitors) to the prompt so the fixes suggested in the home-working scenario are ones staff can really request
- Include your escalation route in the prompt — the name of the facilities inbox or H&S coordinator — so flagged issues from the scored self-assessment go somewhere specific
- For predominantly home-based teams, weight the prompt towards the hybrid section and ask for extra scenarios on shared or improvised workspaces
Frequently asked questions
Who legally needs a DSE assessment in the UK?
Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, employers must analyse the workstations of DSE users — HSE guidance treats someone as a user if they use display screen equipment daily, for continuous spells of an hour or more, as a significant part of their normal work. That captures most office, hybrid and home-based staff. Self-assessment training like this is the standard way to discharge the duty at scale, provided flagged issues are followed up.
How often must DSE assessments be repeated?
There is no fixed statutory interval. Assessments must be reviewed when the workstation, software or user changes significantly, when a new user starts, or when someone reports discomfort. Many employers run an annual self-assessment cycle as good practice, and a hosted session or SCORM completion record provides the audit trail.
Do employers have to pay for eye tests and glasses for screen users?
Yes, on request. A DSE user can ask their employer to pay for an eye test, and the employer must also pay for glasses if the test shows they are needed specifically for the screen viewing distance. If the person needs glasses for general use anyway, the employer only has to contribute where a special prescription is required for DSE work.
Do the DSE Regulations apply to people working from home?
Yes. The employer's duties under the 1992 Regulations apply wherever the user habitually works, including at home or in hybrid patterns. Employers do not need to visit every home, but they do need workers to assess their own setup competently and report problems — which is exactly what this self-assessment is designed to enable.
Ready to make it yours?
Customise the prompt, generate a draft, then review the content and SCORM package before delivery.
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